When it comes to the best color laser for home office, there are a few things you need to consider before you make your purchase.
The first thing is what kind of printer you want. Do you want an all-in-one printer? Or do you want something that will only print?
The second thing is how much space do you have? Do you have room for a bulky machine or are you looking for something small and portable?
Thirdly, what kind of paper are you going to be using? Is it standard white paper or something more expensive like photo paper? If so, be sure that your printer is compatible with it!
Finally, how much are you willing to spend? There are some great color lasers out there that can cost as little as $100 but there are also some high-end ones that cost upwards of $1000!
In this article we will discuss Best all-in-one color laser printer for home use and Laser printer vs inkjet
When you’re running a business from home, it’s important to have a reliable printer that’s going to stand up to the daily wear and tear of office life. You can’t afford to get stuck with a machine that’s slow or breaks down all the time—you’ve got enough on your plate as it is.
So how do you find the best color laser for your home office? First, make sure you know exactly what kind of laser printer you need: mono or color? Do you want a machine that can print in both black and white and color, or do you need one that handles just one of those tasks? Do you have a lot of printing needs, or are they more limited?
Then look at some key features: speed, paper capacity, resolution settings, and more. And don’t forget about warranties—you want something with a long warranty period so if anything goes wrong with your printer during its lifetime (which could be as long as 10 years), it will be covered by the manufacturer manufacturer.
Finding the best color laser for home office use can be a challenge. You want to find a printer that can handle the heavy printing tasks you need it for—but also doesn’t cost too much.
And of course, you want it to look nice as well. After all, your home office is an extension of your own personality, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from years of working with clients, it’s that people really care about making sure their space reflects who they are as individuals.
We’ve done the hard part for you: We’ve narrowed down our favorites based on the features that matter most for your home office needs (and none of them will break the bank). Read on to learn more!
The 8 Best Color Laser Printers of 2022
- Best Overall: HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw. …
- Best Budget: Brother HL-L3270CDW. …
- Best Splurge: HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M652dn. …
- Best for High Volume: Brother HL-L8360CDW. …
- Best for Smart Home Offices: Canon ImageClass MF644CDW. …
- Best for Low Volume: Brother HL-L3210CW.
The 8 Best Color Laser Printers of 2022
Keep ink costs down
BY TAYLOR CLEMONS
Updated on July 03, 2021
We are committed to researching, testing, and recommending the best products. We may receive commissions from purchases made after visiting links within our content. Learn more about our review process.
Color laser printers have become more affordable over the years, letting home-based professionals as well as small business owners access these higher-end units. Laser printers offer faster print speeds over inkjet models as well as better monthly print volumes; toner cartridges are designed to last longer than ink cartridges, letting you print thousands of pages in a month. Most laser printers feature automatic duplex printing as well as duplex scanning and copying on all-in-one models to help save on paper as well as time.
Many also feature wireless printing capabilities via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cloud printing services; this lets you print from your computer or mobile devices with or without an internet connection, meaning you’ll be able to get your reports done no matter where you are. Some of the higher-end all-in-one models allow you to scan documents directly into email programs or network locations for faster distribution or saving, and you can even create searchable PDF documents for better organization. Color laser printers can vary greatly in print volume and speed, so be sure to check each model carefully to see if it will suit your needs.
Printers with low printing speeds are best suited for smaller businesses that may be just starting out or home-based professionals who only occasionally deal with hard copies of documents, while higher-speed models are better for large offices with dozens of employees. We’ve rounded up our top picks from brands like Canon, Brother, and HP and broke down their features to help you decide which color laser printer is best for your business or home office.
Best Overall: HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
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The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is one of the best color laser printers available for home offices and small businesses. It can connect to your computer or mobile devices via USB cable or Wi-Fi for fast, reliable printing from email, network locations, and cloud storage services. It’s also compatible with Apple AirPrint and HP ePrint for more mobile printing options.
With printing speeds up to 22 pages per minute and automatic duplex printing, you’ll be able to create physical copies of documents quickly while also saving paper. The compact size of this single-function laser printer shouldn’t fool you; it has a 250-sheet capacity input tray and a 100-sheet capacity output tray so you can spend less time refilling the printer and retrieving documents, and more time finishing daily tasks.
The 2.7-inch color touchscreen makes it easy to navigate menus, set up print jobs, and check printer statuses like toner and paper levels. The printer is compatible with both Windows and macOS computers, so it will work in offices with multiple types of devices.
Best Budget: Brother HL-L3270CDW
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If you’re just starting your small business or just looking for a budget-friendly printer, the Brother HL-L3270CDW is a great option. This color laser printer is capable of producing up to 25 pages per minute with automatic duplex printing to help save both time and paper; there is also a toner saving mode for even more print cost reduction.
The 2.7-inch touchscreen lets you set up shortcut options for fast printing from network locations, cloud storage services, and even mobile devices. With both Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, it’s fast and easy to wirelessly print documents from computers and mobile devices, but if you want a hardwired connection, there are USB and Ethernet options as well. With 250-sheet input and 150-sheet output trays, you’ll be able to tackle large print jobs. A manual feed slot in the rear of the printer allows you to take care of very small or specialized print jobs like envelopes, labels, or cover sheets.
Related: The Best Cheap Printers
Best Splurge: HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M652dn
HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M652dn
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If you’re looking to invest in a high-end color laser printer for your home office or business, look no further than the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M652dn. This single-function laser printer comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s backed up by some truly impressive features. You’ll be able to print up to 50 pages per minute with the first page out in as little as 6.4 seconds, perfect for when you need to print large or multiple documents fast.
It also has an 8.4 second wakeup cycle, meaning you can spend more time getting work done and less time waiting for your printer to warm up; it also automatically self-repairs any print code errors upon startup to prevent external hacks and network errors. With 1GB of internal memory, you’ll be able to store multiple documents for printing at a later date or set up specific print modes for custom print jobs; you can print up to 16 pages on a single sheet and even add watermarks to protect intellectual property. With automatic duplex printing and optional high-yield cartridges, you’ll be able to save on print costs, paper use, and time.
This printer is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux based computers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, making it perfect for businesses and offices that use multiple networks and devices. It features built-in ethernet and USB ports for network connectivity and printing directly from flash drives, and you can also upgrade the printer for wireless printing via Wi-Fi.
Best for High Volume: Brother HL-L8360CDW
Brother HL-L8360CDW
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For larger, busier offices, the Brother HL-L8360CDW is a great choice for high-volume printing. This color laser printer can produce up to 33 pages per minute, letting you handle large or multiple documents quickly. The dual input trays give you up to 300-sheets for both multi-purpose and specialized printing; you can also buy additional input trays for up to 800-sheet capacity. The output tray can hold up to 150 sheets, meaning you can print large or multiple documents without worrying about jams or having everything fall to the floor.
A USB port on the printer allows you to print directly from flash drives and other memory storage devices, though you can also print wirelessly over Wi-Fi or through apps like AirPrint and Google Cloud Print. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen lets you effortlessly check on printer status, queue print jobs, or change settings like toner save mode or energy save mode to help reduce operating costs. Brother claims that this printer can handle a monthly print volume of up to 60,000 pages, making it perfect for busy offices.
Best for Smart Home Offices: Canon ImageClass MF644CDW
Canon ImageClass MF644CDW
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As more and more people are working from home, there is an increased need for smart devices, and the Canon ImageClass MF644CDW is one that will fit perfectly in your smart home office. You can connect this printer to your Alexa-enabled devices for hands-free voice controls, letting you print, scan, copy, and fax with just a word; this is perfect for when you need to set up a print job while you’re on a video call or in a virtual meeting.
It’s compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices as well as Windows and macOS computers, so no matter what you’ve equipped your office with, it will work with just about every device you have. The 5-inch touchscreen allows you to set up shortcuts and change settings as well as switch between duplex and simplex printing, scanning, and copying. You can print up to 22 pages per minute and scan up to 51 images per minute in simplex mode, letting you quickly get through large jobs and documents.
If you want to print something at a later date, you can store documents in the printer’s short term memory; you can queue a job at the end of the day Monday for the next morning or Friday evening for the next week. When you scan documents, you can create searchable PDF files for better organization or scan directly to email, network locations, or cloud storage services like Google Drive.
Related: The Best Wireless Printers
Best for Low Volume: Brother HL-L3210CW
Brother HL-L3210CW
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If your home or traditional office has only occasional printing needs, the Brother HL-L3210CW is a great option. It prints up to 19 pages per minute, and it can handle both letter and legal size paper as well as card stock, glossy photo paper, and envelopes. The 250-sheet input tray lets you load the printer less often, and the manual feed slot lets you take care of single-sheet print jobs or specialized paper. The 1-line LCD display is clear and easy to read, letting you check on printer statuses and print jobs with just a glance.
The printer has built-in Wi-Fi for wireless printing from Windows and macOS computers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices; you can also use a USB connection for a more permanent connection to a laptop or desktop. It comes with starter toner cartridges that yield around 1,000 pages, almost matching the recommended monthly print volume of 1,500 pages; this is perfect for businesses and home offices that only very rarely need to print physical copies of documents. The compact size of the printer also makes it great for smaller spaces, letting you tuck it away on a shelf, desk corner, or dedicated cart.
Best Single Function: HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW
HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW
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Sometimes, all a business needs is a solid, reliable printer, and the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw is built from the ground-up to be the best single-function printer on the market. This color laser printer is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux computers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, letting you effortlessly print documents from almost any device. It features a USB port for printing directly from flash drives as well as built-in Wi-Fi for wireless printing options; it even has Bluetooth connectivity for wireless printing without an internet connection.
Automatic duplex printing means you’ll be able to save on paper as well as time, with the ability to print up to 28 pages per minute with the first page out in as little as 9.5 seconds. This printer features two input trays: a 250-sheet capacity tray for letter size paper and a 50-sheet tray for multipurpose printing, and you can purchase an additional 550-sheet tray for even more paper storage. With the automatic on/off feature, this printer helps save on energy use by only turning on when a print job is ready to go and shutting off when idle. This printer also has a bevy of embedded security features like threat alerts and PIN printing to prevent unauthorized use and access.
Best All-in-One: HP Color LaserJet Pro MFPM281fdw
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw Multifunction Laser Printer
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All-in-one printers revolutionized business when they first arrived on the market in the early 90s, and the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFPM281fdw continues to improve upon that legacy. It offers some of the fastest print speeds in its class with up to 22 pages per minute single-sided or 13ppm in duplex mode. It also features a 50 page automatic document feeder for fast copying and scanning of text documents as well as a flatbed scanner for high-quality scans of images and small text. With the HP Smart app, you’ll be able to print, scan, copy, and fax images and documents from your iOS or Android mobile device and even cloud storage services like iCloud and Google Drive. The 2.7-inch touchscreen interface lets you scan documents to email programs, network locations, and cloud storage services as well as set up user profiles and shortcuts for more efficient workflow. There is a USB port on the front of the printer for walk-up printing directly from flash drives or other storage devices. The compact footprint of this all-in-one laser printer makes it great for smaller businesses and home offices where shelf, floor, or desk space is at a premium.
Related: The Best All-in-One Laser Printers
Final Verdict
The HP Color LaserJet Pro 255dw is one of the best color laser printers available to buy (view at Office Depot). It offers 22ppm print speeds as well as Wi-Fi connectivity and cloud printing capabilities for fast, wireless printing. While the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M652dn (view at Amazon) may be pricey, it offers some of the best print speeds (up to 50ppm) and one of the fastest warmup times (8.4 seconds) in its class. It also has almost universal compatibility with computer and mobile device operating systems as well as walk-up USB printing.
What to Look for When Buying a Color Laser Printer
Print speed
Print speed refers to how many pages per minute (ppm) a printer can produce as well as how long it takes to print the first page. The lower the ppm, the slower the printer is; lower ppm printers are more suited to low-volume offices while higher ppm models are better for larger businesses that may employ dozens, if not hundreds, of people
Single function vs all-in-one
Single function printers do one thing: print. All-in-one models can print, scan, copy, and even fax documents and images. If your business or office deals with graphics as well as text documents, an all-in-one may be the better choice. But if you only need to occasionally print hard copies of contracts or other important documents, a single function is more than enough.
Connectivity
Nowadays, printers can connect to your computers and mobile devices in multiple ways. You can use a USB cable, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and even Bluetooth to print wirelessly, from cloud storage services, and directly from flash drives.
FAQs
How long will the toner cartridge last?
That all depends on the manufacturer and the type of toner cartridge it is. Some cartridges are labeled as “high-yield,” meaning you’ll be able to print hundreds, or thousands, more pages than the standard cartridges allow. However, high-yield cartridges are also much more expensive, so you’ll have to weigh the operation costs against the benefits.
How can I clean the laser printer?
Many office supply stores sell cleaning sheets for laser printers. These look like regular paper, but are specially treated with cleaning agents to remove excess toner and dirt from print heads and drums. You can also manually clean toner cartridge heads and drums with rubbing alcohol, canned air, and even specialized vacuums designed to gently remove toner dust and dirt. Check your printer’s operating manual to see how you can disassemble the unit for cleaning.
What security features can I have with a laser printer?
When dealing with sensitive information such as employee records or financial reports, keeping your company’s printers safe from outside hacks and unauthorized use is important. Many new laser printers come with embedded security such as password or PIN protected modes that require an employee ID to print, firewall protection and threat alerts, and even encryption for added data protection. Check your printer’s operating manual to see what features it offers and how to set them up
Best All-In-One Colour Laser Printer For Home Use
LaserJet Pro M255dw from HP
optimum laser printer
The HP M255dw boasts excellent software, a simple touchscreen interface, and cheap operating costs.
Crisp black lettering and brilliant color images are some of the fantastic outcomes it delivers.
Be prepared to pay full price when you need to refill the cartridges because a fall 2020 firmware upgrade blocked non-HP toner.
HP manufacturer’s warranty upon purchasing is $399*.
$400 from Staples *The cost was $300 at the time of publication.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is the laser printer to acquire if you’re searching for one that can handle anything from book reports to business reports without making you crazy.
With a user-friendly touch interface modeled after smartphones and cutting-edge mobile and PC applications, it stands out from the competition and makes daily use far less frustrating than on other printers we’ve tried.
In our tests, it generated crisp black text, lively full-color visuals, and even images suitable for a report at school.
It prints at a top speed of about 17 pages per minute, and a convenient bypass hole allows it to print on odd-sized media like envelopes and labels.
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budget choice
HL-L2350DW from Brother
a reasonably priced printer for everyday use
The HL-L2350DW is the greatest laser printer you can get for under $100 because of its low running expenses, speedy performance, and practical features.
from Walmart, $150
From Amazon, $150
The cost was $110 at the time this article was published.
Some folks merely require a low-cost laser printer for sporadic projects requiring black and white printing.
We advise the Brother HL-L2350DW for them.
The machine is simple to set up and works with all popular operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
It has a modest cost per page of 3.3, is glued to Wi-Fi, and typically costs approximately $100.
Right out of the box, its print quality is just passable, but you can fix that by making a small adjustment to the toner density setting.
Just keep in mind that the HL-L2350DW lacks the ability to scan or copy; if you require these features, check out our top monochrome all-in-one.
Great as well
MFC-L2750DW by Brother
a scanner and copy machine that prints in monochrome
This multifunction printer considerably increases the HL-home L2350DW’s office utility by including a flatbed scanner and an automated document feeder.
from Amazon, $270*
from Walmart, $270
From Staples, $270
The cost was $200 as of the publication date.
If you like the sound of our budget pick but want the ability to scan and copy documents and photos too, the Brother MFC-L2750DW should fit the bill. At its core it’s a very similar printer—and it’s just as easy to set up—but it also has a flatbed scanner and a fast, single-pass duplexing automatic document feeder on top. Its print quality is slightly better out of the box, and you get the same operating costs, the same print speed, and the same connectivity options as you do with the HL-L2350DW. For home offices this model is a great do-it-all option—as long as you don’t need color.
Upgrade pick
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw
Speed and features for high-volume needs
This business-class machine checks all the boxes for a home office or small business: It’s faster, sharper, more durable, and more secure than our other picks. Like our top pick, it requires you to use official HP toner.
$819* from HP manufacturer’s warranty w/purchase
$820 from Staples *At the time of publishing, the price was $450.
For a small business with more serious productivity needs, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is a worthwhile upgrade over our other picks. It prints and scans more quickly and more reliably than inkjet alternatives, produces sharper results, and includes robust admin and security settings designed for situations that may involve sensitive data. All-in-one color lasers like the M479fdw cost more and are more expensive to operate than inkjet printers with comparable features, but they deliver high-quality color prints, copies, and scans at a quicker pace than cheaper models. They’re also sturdier and more reliable than inkjets.
Everything we recommend
Laser Printer Vs Inkjet
Before choosing an inkjet or laser printer, there are a number of differences to take into account.
Canon Inkjet Printers by Brother
depend on ink with a dye or pigment base to function. They are a fantastic solution for folks who want to print a lot of images and want high-quality results. Home users, students, and small offices who print documents with lots of images frequently use inkjet printers.
The Brother Laser Printer
To create text and graphics, use toner. They often print quickly and are larger than their inkjet competitors. Because to their business-focused features, such as optional trays for greater capacity, high yield replacement supplies, and superior security features, larger enterprises and busy offices with high print volumes frequently choose laser printers.
How do inkjet and laser printers function?
How they function is one of the key distinctions between inkjet and laser printing. They both create clear, crisp text and visuals, but they go about it in quite different ways.
laser vs. inkjet
Little nozzles used by inkjet printers release ink droplets directly onto the paper. If you want to create high-resolution photos, graphics, or images for your documents, this method works well for images that are vividly colored.
Instead of using ink that contains dye or pigment, laser printers use toner powder. Using a light-sensitive drum, laser printers create electrostatically charged dots that draw toner powder. A heating process fixes the toner and transfers it to the paper. Laser printers provide sharp monochrome and vibrant color printouts.
What elements should you compare between inkjet and laser?
There are a number of crucial considerations that can assist you in selecting whether an inkjet printer or a laser printer is preferable for your needs, such as:
Whether you want to print in color or black and white, both inkjet and laser printers can deliver the vibrant hues and detailed images you require. But, a monochrome laser printer can be the best choice if you simply need to print in black and white. Discover more about monochrome printers in black and white.
Price: The good news is that Brother has reasonable prices on both inkjet and laser printers to suit any budget. Laser printers provide a wider selection of alternatives if copy, scan, and fax operations are not needed. While laser printers may cost more to acquire initially but normally have a lower total cost of ownership over time, inkjet printers are frequently less expensive to buy.
While laser printers do create good color and black-and-white results, inkjet printers are still thought of as the masters of high-resolution color printing. Both inkjet and laser printers can produce legible text that is clear and sharp as well as vibrant color graphics and images that are perfect for business documents. The capability of borderless (edge-to-edge) printing is another feature offered by inkjet printers.
How quickly do you need those documents—and how many documents do you need? Laser printers are a fantastic option for small enterprises, large workgroups, and mid-sized offices since they can deliver quick results at high quantities. An inkjet printer may easily satisfy the printing needs of small workplaces and home offices with smaller print volumes.
Page Yield: Both toner and ink cartridges come in a variety of page yield options, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your printing requirements. High-yield cartridge options are available for both inkjet and laser printers, allowing you to print more pages before needing replacement cartridges. Without respect to the kind of printer, this can assist in lowering the total cost of ownership.
Business Features: If you plan to use your printer primarily for work, laser printers may come with extra features tailored to the workplace, like optional paper trays, increased yields on replacement supplies, and improved security options. Find out more information about How to Choose a Business Printer.
Ledger paper size 11×17: Several Brother inkjet printers also enable larger 11×17 ledger, or tabloid, printing even though the majority of printers handle a variety of paper sizes. Get more information about 11×17 ledger printers.
Support: At Your Side support from Brother is included for the lifetime of your printer with each and every one of our premium inkjet and laser printers.